03/19 19:52 CDT AP source: MLB hopes for Yanks-Red Sox in London in 2019
AP source: MLB hopes for Yanks-Red Sox in London in 2019
By RONALD BLUM
AP Baseball Writer
NEW YORK (AP) --- Major League Baseball is working to finalize a two-game
series between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox at London's Olympic
Stadium on June 29-30 in 2019, the sport's first regular-season games in Europe.
The Red Sox have the option of having both games be Boston home games, a person
familiar with the planning told The Associated Press. The person spoke on
condition of anonymity Monday because no announcement had been made.
Baseball officials have long hoped for games on London and settled last year on
Olympic Stadium, which is in its second season as home of West Ham of the
Premier League. Because it originally was built for a 400-meter track, it is
wider than other large stadiums in the London area and can best accommodate the
dimensions of a baseball field.
"This is something the two clubs have discussed for years with MLB and
hopefully it will become a reality," Red Sox owner John Henry said in an email
to The Associated Press.
MLB chose the June window because it is after the Premier League season and
before the stadium must be made available for summer track and field events.
MLB hopes to make an announcement within the next two months.
Each player would get $60,000 for participating in the games, according to the
collective bargaining agreement.
MLB is playing regular-season games in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Monterrey,
Mexico, this year.
Baseball opened its season at Monterrey in 1999 (Colorado vs. San Diego); the
Tokyo Dome in 2000 (Chicago Cubs-New York Mets), 2004 (Tampa Bay-Yankees), 2008
(Boston-Oakland) and 2012 (Seattle-Oakland); and at Sydney, Australia in 2014
(Los Angeles Dodgers-Arizona). The collective bargaining agreement had a
provision for a 2019 opener in Toyko.
Additional regular-season games were played at Monterrey in 1996 (San
Diego-Mets); and at San Juan in 2001 (Toronto-Texas), 2003-04 (a total of 43
Montreal home games) and 2010 (Mets-Florida Marlins).
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